Ski binding with universal release

Abstract

A ski binding assembly includes a releasable binding for rigidly securing a ski boot to the ski with a release actuating element for releasing the ski boot from the binding upon occurrence of a release condition determined by a preprogrammed control. The releasable binding includes circular elements, nested one within the other, and a detent for selectively locking the elements together while being capable of unlatching the elements upon operation of the release actuating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ski binding for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, comprising a circular releasable binding for selectively engaging the ski boot with the ski, said circular releasable binding including a base portion and two circular elements arranged parallel with the plane of the ski, one of said circular elements being mounted to the underside of the boot and the other of said circular elements being mounted on said base portion, said base portion having a pair of slotted portions extending outwardly therefrom, each of said slotted portions being mounted on said ski, said circular elements being nestable one within the other for positioning the boot relative to the ski, detent means being adapted for selective rigid locking engagement between said two circular elements to secure the boot to the ski, locking means for maintaining the detent means in locked engagement between said two circular elements, release actuating means for releasing the locking means to permit disengagement between said two circular elements and to permit release of the ski boot from the ski when necessary in order to minimize or prevent injury by permitting relative motion in any direction between the boot and ski during release, means for measuring deflection in each of said slotted portions and further for developing a plurality of electrical signals commensurate with selected ones of components of deflection about longitudinal, lateral, and vertical axes of said ski,   computing means responsive to said electrical signals for computing angular deflections about selected ones of said axes, said computing means being preprogrammed with predetermined critical angular deflections for computing a relationship between said electrical signals for initiating a release signal to said release actuating means.   
     
     
       2. The ski binding of claim 1 further comprising additional manually operable means for selectively releasing the locking means to permit disengagement between said two circular elements and release of the ski boot from the ski. 
     
     
       3. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein mating surfaces of the circular elements taper radially inwardly and upwardly in order to facilitate release of the boot from the binding. 
     
     
       4. The ski binding of claim 1 further comprising spring means arranged for interaction between the ski boot and said locking means for positioning said locking means in order to maintain said detent means in positive locking engagement. 
     
     
       5. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said release actuating means is arranged for interaction with said locking means to urge it against said spring means for releasing locking engagement of said detent means. 
     
     
       6. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of detent balls carried by one of said circular elements for locking engagement with annular recess means in the other of said circular elements. 
     
     
       7. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said release actuating means comprises a pyrotechnic device. 
     
     
       8. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein said measuring means includes a plurality of strain gauges mounted on said slotted portions.